Edition 21
This week we bring you news of funding to support Afghanistan Veterans, new Trustees and an update on LCpl Luke Grainger’s 60 Marathons in 60 Days.
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RMA – The Royal Marines Charity welcomes three new Trustees
RMA – The Royal Marines Charity is delighted to announce three new appointments to its Board of Trustees.
Nick Banks, Emma Gray and Tom Tripp possess extensive experience drawn from the private, public and third sectors.
In extending a warm welcome to the new Trustees, CEO Jonathan Ball says: “We are extremely fortunate to have secured the expertise of Nick, Emma and Tom. They are three hugely accomplished individuals who now complete our 15-strong Board.
Their recruitment perfectly complements the calibre of those we are fortunate to have already on the Board We look forward greatly to working alongside them in our ongoing responsibility to ensure effective oversight of the Charity and to drive continuous improvement.
I am of the firm belief that we are now in a great position to assure the Corps Family that, with such a formidable team to guide us, we can continue to work relentlessly in providing them with the very best support possible.”
He’s reached Scotland! Still running, still fresh and still smiling! 😀
Earlier this week, LCpl Luke Grainger completed the 54th marathon in 54 days to raise money for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.
As if a marathon wasn’t quite enough, 45 Commando RM had the added pleasure of conquering the 246 steps for a finishing photograph in The National Wallace Monument Crown.
On Saturday Luke heads to Murrayfield, where he will complete his 59th Marathon at Half-Time during the Scotland V Australia Autumn Test series.
He then plans to finish his 60th run on 30th October at the Commando Memorial near Spean Bridge, the ancestral home of the wartime commandos who trained at nearby Achnacarry during WW2, 80 years ago.
Our huge thanks to RM Commando 80 event sponsors Patron Capital Partners & Prime Health Weybridge, supported by Forces Mutual.
Funding announced to support Afghanistan Veterans
We are delighted to have received two grants worth a total of £141,000 to help support a number of upcoming programmes designed to help improve the wellbeing, resilience and promote good mental health to those veterans who have served in Afghanistan and other recent conflicts, and their families.
The money has been disseminated by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) on behalf of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s Afghanistan Veterans’ Fund at the request of The Office for Veterans Affairs.
It will be used to fund respite breaks and reunions in January and August/September 2023, following the success this year of two similar trips to Chamonix run by a double amputee Afghan veteran for other Afghan veterans. These proved to be exceptionally effective in assisting the attendees’ mental and physical wellbeing and continued recovery.
Supporting Troop Reunions
The Royal Marines Association had the pleasure of hosting 277 Troop from 1981, 624 Troop from 1991 and 650 Troop from 1993 at the pass out of 324a Troop “The Kings Squad”.
One of the Reunions also laid a wreath at the memorial wall for their Troop Officer from training, the late Major General Matt Holmes CBE DSO.
The Defence Security and Intelligence Forum
Our Employment & Education team had the pleasure of attending Defence Security and Intelligence Forum supported by the Forces Employment Charity, hosted by Rolls Royce in Bristol.
The aim of the forum was to help the Armed Forces community to learn more about careers in defence, security and intelligence with the help of their Headline Sponsor Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) and Strategic Sponsor Rolls-Royce.
Rolls Royce are expanding. They have over 100 job vacancies and are actively looking for people who are used to inspiring a team and working under pressure in dynamic and changing environments.
Hidden Help for Hidden Heroes
Huge congratulations to the Hidden Help for Hidden Heroes team for completing their mammoth challenge in 35.5hrs. ⠀
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The team swam, ran, cycled, kayaked and yomped their way from CTCRM to 42 Commando through wind and rain to raise funds for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity. ⠀
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Currently, the teams’ fundraising total is at over £5000. Thank you for such a heroic effort!
Supporting Futures
The following message of thanks has been received by our Health & Wellbeing team who helped a veteran and single parent claim the correct tariff from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for the multiple injuries he sustained during his RM service, as a result of which he was medically discharged:
‘Right from the outset the team was incredibly supportive and passionate about securing me the correct tariff for my injuries. They assisted me greatly by filling out the forms with me and representing me during my subsequent tribunals.
Today I have been awarded AFCS (Armed Forces Compensation Scheme) compensation for my injury which will now ensure that I no longer need to have financial concerns for myself or my children.
I just want to say a deep personal thank you. Without your professionalism, dedication and support throughout the process, this result would never have been achievable.’
Royal Marines Band wows German audience with performance
Royal Marines brought the sound of music to the Alps when they thanked a small German town for its ongoing support to the Royal Navy.
The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland staged a benefit concert in Bad Hindelang, a small community in the Allgäu region about 80 miles southwest of Munich.
For nearly a decade it’s been home to the Naval Outdoor Centre Germany which occupies an Alpine four-star hotel, from where instructors and staff have provided AT opportunities to thousands of Royal Navy personnel and their families: rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking and klettersteiging in the summer, skiing in winter, for people of all abilities.
As well as surprising and delighting the Bad Hindelang populace, the band concert
raised €2,200 (£1,921) which will be split between the local mountain rescue team
and RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.